Jufed reproaches Godoy’s “threat” to judges who act against the PJ reform

César Arellano and Néstor Jiménez

La Jornada Newspaper
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, p. 15

The National Association of Circuit Magistrates and District Judges of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (Jufed) expressed its strongest rejection to the recent statements of the next Legal Counsel of the Presidency, Ernestina Godoy, who threatened with acting against federal judges who, in accordance with their constitutional mandate, have issued resolutions in amparo proceedings promoted against the judicial reform.

He asserted that such demonstrations, which constitute a serious threat to judicial independence and the division of powers, can be understood as a line of action in the exercise of his next position in the federal government, which would undoubtedly call into question the commitment to assume a government with full respect for democratic principles.

Separately, workers from the Judicial Branch of the Federation (PJF) held a protest last night next to the Monument to the Revolution, where they installed what they called megatar of deadto denounce the homicides recorded during the government of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

With a structure several meters high, hundreds of workers placed the seven-story altar, in which reference was made to cases of missing persons, femicides and alleged cases of ecocide. In the midst of the protest, they repeatedly raised slogans against the recent reform of the PJF.

Around them they placed dozens of crosses and coffins, and stated that Without justice, there is only impunity.

The Jufed reiterated in a statement that the independence of judges is an essential pillar to guarantee an impartial and equitable justice system, in which the human rights and constitutional guarantees of all citizens are respected.

At this time when various leaders are in our country for the ceremony of transmission of Executive Power, the seriousness of their statements stands out. Any attempt at coercion or intimidation towards the Judiciary represents an unacceptable setback in the country’s democratic progress, and compromises the ability of judges to perform their functions with impartiality and autonomy.

In that same context, the Jufed called on the Executive and Legislative powers, as well as the National Electoral Institute and other authorities linked to compliance with judicial resolutions, to respect the suspensions.

Failure to comply with said resolutions implies liability for omitted public officials, regardless of their hierarchy, in addition to violating the rule of law. The Jufed reiterates its commitment to defending judicial autonomy and the judges that comprise it.

The strike continues

Judges and magistrates of the PJF reported that by majority they will continue the stoppage of activities. The Jufed announced that after carrying out a democratic exercise to the judges in the consultation of the question: Do you agree with the conclusion of the suspension of work on October 2, 2024?it was obtained that out of a universe of 1,342 judges, 510 voted to conclude the suspension of jurisdictional activities and 832 voted not to finalize it.